title: Is posterior fixation alone effective to prevent the late kyphosis after T-L fracture?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The posterior transpedicular fixation technique is a standard procedure for stabilizing the injured thoracolumbar spine but the long-term results of this approach are controversial. Clear guidelines are missing and the literature shows complete disagreement regarding indications, approaches, surgical techniques, and type of fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this study is to investigate if the surgical treatment by posterior approach alone is always enough to prevent the late kyphotic deformity through the retrospective analysis of 219 patients affected with a thoracolumbar injury. Follow-up examinations included radiographic measurements of the sagittal index (SI) and the sagittal plane kyphosis (SPK).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that, at the follow-up, the SI remains almost stable after the surgical correction, while the SPK (which describes the eventual injury of the affected intervertebral disc) decreases indicating a progressive regional kyphotic deformity. Thus, in some cases posterior fixation alone is not sufficient for long-term spinal stabilization and often can be not effective to prevent the late kyphotic deformity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Ancona, via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martiniani
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meco
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Specchia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult